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All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Melinda Jarvis Devereaux ************************************************************************** * Thomas Stephen 'Steve' Dale, 56 MILFORD - Thomas Ste-phen "Steve" Dale of Milford died Thursday, June 5, 2003, in his home. He was 56. Mr. Dale was born in South Bend, Ind., son of the late Gordon and Margaret (Chaney) Dale. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967 until 1971, rising to the rank of sergeant. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, was awarded two Purple Hearts, and was a gunnery instructor at Parris Island, S.C. Mr. Dale owned and oper-ated D '&;' D Dismantling Co. in Lincoln, a demolition company that performed demolition work in oil refin-eries in Texas, Louisiana and Baltimore. He was a stock-car racing enthusiast and was well-known for his 19D modified race teams with drivers Har-old Bunting, Bobby Wilkins and Ricky Elliot. He also owned a Busch Series team with New Jersey driver Brett Hearn. He raced primarily at the Georgetown, Delmar, Syracuse, N.Y., and Bridge-port, N.J., tracks, and won numerous local track cham-pionships. Mr. Dale was a member of the Milford Veterans of For-eign Wars Blue Hen Post 6483, was a Life Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited and was a member of the Milford Moose Lodge. He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Michele R. Dale; three daughters, Theresa Harrison of Arlington, Tenn., Charlene Kardoush of Mem-phis and Bonnie Buzzard of Disney, Okla.; two brothers, Douglas C. Dale of Dover and Gordon W. Dale of Harrington; five grandchildren, Blayne Harrison, Isabella Kardoush, Thomas Kardoush, McKenzie Buzzard and Kaegan Buzzard; two uncles, Woodrow W. Chaney and Boyd H. Chaney, both of Harrington; an aunt, Barbara Chaney Bailey of Milford; a cousin, Donna Baker; and several other close nephews and cousins. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the Lo-fland Funeral Home, 102 Lakeview Ave., Milford. Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Odd Fel-lows Cemetery, Milford. Instead of flowers, the fam-ily suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 9 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 19720. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Effie B. Hamilton, 71 MILFORD - Effie B. Hamilton of Milford died of a heart attack Friday, June 6, 2003, in Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital. She was 71. Mrs. Hamilton was the daughter of the late William T. and Elsie (Butler) Benton. She was a nurse's aide at the Milford Manor Nursing Home. She also worked at Torbert Produce for 15 years, and helped her sister care for adult foster-care people. She enjoyed spending time with her family and doing needlepoint. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Hamilton; and two brothers, George Benton and Laben Benton. She is survived by three sisters, Laura Brenneman of Lincoln and Martha Watkins and Carol Torbert, both of Milford; a brother, Samuel Lee Benton of Milford; a son, Dale Hamilton of Camden; three grandchildren, Kristen Hamilton, Scott Hamilton and Kevin Hamilton; and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 N.W. Front St., Milford. Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Hopkins Cemetery, Felton. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Mary A. Johnston, 89 MASSEY, Md. - Mary A. Johnston of Massey died of natural causes Friday, June 6, 2003, in Chestertown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Chestertown. She was 89. Mrs. Johnston was born Sept. 27, 1913, daughter of the late Thomas and Sarah O'Grady Dunn. She was the Massey post-master for 39 years, retiring in 1965. She enjoyed traveling, playing bridge and her family. Mrs. Johnston was a life-time resident of Kent County and held memberships with the Massey Homemakers, Maryland League of Post-masters, Lower Cecil County Senior Citizens, the MOT Seniors and St. Dennis Roman Catholic Church, and was a life member of ACT Community Theatre. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, J. Landis Johnston, in 1963; and a sister, Josephine Simpson. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte and Will Kirkwood of Townsend, Del.; two sisters, Catherine Diers and Teresa Clegg, both of Chestertown; four granddaughters and the husbands of three, Sharon and Robert Wyatt of Harrington, Del., Stephanie and Douglas Wright of Townsend, René and Timothy Nolan of Middletown, Del., and Natalie Kirkwood of Townsend; and six great-grandchildren, Lyndsey, Alison, Samantha, Sara, Jena and Zachary. Friends may call from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, 118 W. Cross St., Galena. Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Dennis Roman Catholic Church, Galena. Burial will be in Massey Cemetery. The family suggests memo-rial contributions to St. Dennis Roman Catholic Church. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Kenneth A. LaFace Sr., 62 CLAYTON - Kenneth A. LaFace Sr. of Clayton died Friday, June 6, 2003, in his home. He was 62. Mr. LaFace was born in Pittsburgh, son of the late Anthony and Edna LaFace. He was employed as a truck driver for many years, having formerly worked for his father's trucking firm, LaFace Express, of Pittsburgh. He later started his own trucking company, Kenco, in Pittsburgh. For the last five years, he worked for Robbins Motor Transportation of Philadelphia. Mr. LaFace enjoyed old cars and riding horses. He is survived by a daughter, Kimberly LaFace of Clay-ton; a son, Kenneth LaFace Jr. of Elkton, Md.; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, David and Barbara LaFace and Raymond and Di-ane LaFace, all of Pittsburgh; a granddaughter, Morgan Civita, of Clayton; and his former wife, Kay LaFace of Clayton. Services will be 1 p.m. Monday in Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Restland Memorial Park, Monroeville, Pa. Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contri-butions to Delaware Hospice Inc., 911 S. Du Pont High-way, Dover, DE 19901. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Marion Francis 'Sonny Mac' McMullen GREENSBORO, Md. - Marion Francis "Sonny Mac" McMullen of Greensboro died Saturday, June 7, 2003, in his home. He was 76. Mr. McMullen was born Feb. 20, 1927, in Wilmington, Del., son of the late William and Rebecca G. McMullen. He was a lifetime resident of Greensboro. Mr. McMullen was the owner and operator of the Sunset Tavern and then of Sonny Mac's of Greensboro. He retired from the tavern in 1993 after 20 years. After retiring, he did painting and carpentry work in the community. He enjoyed horse racing, fishing and crabbing. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, James McMullen He is survived by his be-loved companion, Doris Lee Todd of Greensboro; a son, Paul W. McMullen of Henderson; six daughters, JoAnne Martin of Clayton, Del., Rose Stanchick of Camden, Del., Ruby McMullen, Sandra Smith and Lisa Lewis, all of Greensboro, and Lisa McMullen of Dover, Del.; five brothers, Paul McMullen of Smyrna, Del., Wilmer Mitchell of Greensboro, Vernon Mitchell of Sudlersville, Bobby Mitchell of Goldsboro and William Mitchell of Wilmington; a sister, Rosetta Mitchell of Smyrna, Del.; 13 grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today in Fleegle and Helfenbein Funeral Home P.A., Greensboro. Services will be 2 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Greens-boro Cemetery, Greensboro. The family suggests memo-rial contributions to Caroline Hospice Foundation, PO Box 362, Denton, MD 21629. --------------------------------------------------------------- * Margaret D. Saunders, 85 DOVER - Margaret D. Saunders of Dover, formerly of Camden, died Friday, June 6, 2003, in Westminster Retirement Village, Dover. She was 85. Mrs. Saunders was born March 3, 1918, in Milford, daughter of the late William and Nettie (Travis) Dawson. She was a graduate of Caesar Rodney High School and Beacom College (now Goldey Beacom). Mrs. Saunders retired from the State of Delaware in 1979, having served as the librarian for the State Board of Health (now the Division of Public Health) for many years. During the early years of marriage, she and her husband lived on the West Coast during portions of his mili-tary career. After returning home, they built and maintained a summer home at Prime Hook Beach for many years, one of Mrs. Saunders' favorite residences. During their retirement, they wintered in Florida. They shared an interest in history of the state of Delaware and amassed a collection of Delaware books and memorabilia. Having no children of her own, "Aunt Marty" was a favorite aunt of numerous nieces and nephews and their spouses, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Mrs. Saunders was a life-long resident of Kent County, excepting her period of residence on the West Coast, and a life member of Camden Whatcoat Methodist Church in Camden. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elbert P. Saunders. She is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Jean Dawson Lister and Charles Lister of Camden; and two brothers and a sister-in-law, Oscar "Dem" and Jonnye Dawson and William A. Dawson, all of Camden. Remembrance services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in Trader Funeral Home in Dover, where friends may call one hour earlier. Burial will be in Odd Fel-lows Cemetery, Camden. The family suggests memorial contributions to Camden Whatcoat United Methodist Church, Camden. ---------------------------------------------------------------